Mark leads the Characterisation Program in CSIRO's Mineral Resources Business Unit. This program provides a wide range of cutting-edge analytical expertise that underpins research across the mining value chain. Mark's uses his own research experience in quantitative microstructural analysis and mineral chemistry and draws on world leading expertise from across his Program to ensure Mineral Resources' analytical capability is second to none.

Mark is a leading expert in applying micro and nano-scale observations to understand geological processes and has worked on diverse mineral systems from across Australia including gold, base metals and critical minerals. He has also applied his knowledge of mineral structure and chemical processes to interpret extreme geological environments found in meteorite impacts.

Mark joined CSIRO as a postdoc in 2012 and has led teams in exploration geology, orebody geoscience. Prior to joining CSIRO Mark worked as a structural geologist examining large-scale folding in the northern Zagros Mountains and the application of digital mapping technologies to structural geology. This work followed his PhD at the University of Liverpool where he worked on the deformation and metamorphism of rock at high temperatures in the Scottish Highlands.

Alongside his scientific research and leadership responsibilities within CSIRO, Mark is a member of the Pride@CSIRO network and sits on the CSIRO Mineral Resources Diversity and Inclusion Committee to improve the working environment for all his colleagues. Since 2023 he has been a governing councillor for the Geological Society of Australia.